GST 113

LOGIC, PHILOSOPHY
AND HUMAN
EXISTENCE
 TOPIC
Types, Purpose, and

Rules of Definition
 Lesson Objectives
a. To discuss definition

b. To clarify the different types of definitions

c. To enable the student understand the purpose of definition

d. To make the student understand the various rules guiding definitions

 Often times we have to look up the meaning of a new word
 At some other times we have to provide definitions of certain concepts we are employing
 To better enhance our ability to carry out these tasks, we should have at out disposal certain
knowledge that can aid us

Introduction
 Technical terms
 Itis important to understand two technical terms-
definiendum and definiens- to aid better our
understanding of the topic
 Definiendum- this is the concept that one is
giving meaning to, i.e. the word that one is
defining.
 Definiens- this refers to the group of words that
one uses to provide meaning for the words being
defined.
 Types of Definition
 There are six types of definition. They are:
(i) Stipulative definition
(ii) Lexical definition
(iii) Precising definition
(iv)Theoretical definition
(v) Persuasive definition
(vi) Ostensive Definition
Stipulative definition

 A stipulative definition is the definition that is done when a concept is

used for the first time. The person using the concept will need to

stipulate the way the concept should be employed. In other words, the

definiendum is new and is being introduced to people for the first time.

The definiens is also new and can be determined by the person

introducing the definiendum.

Lexical definition

The concept being defined in a lexical definition has an established

meaning/usage. This definition is done in order to report the meaning

that a definiendum has. This implies that both the definiendum and

the definiens are used in accordance with conventional manner.

Precising definition

 There are some words that have borderline disputes surrounding their clarity.

One cannot say precisely the limit they apply to. Take the word “youth” for

instance. This definiedum is subjected to a lot of abuse in the political arena in

Africa. Sometimes, men in their 50s are “Youth Leaders” of political parties. To

resolve this dispute one need only to state precisely what one means whenever

one employs the term. In other words, a precising definition is one in which the

definiens limits the vagueness of a definiendum.

Theoretical Definition

 In every academic discipline, concepts are disputed by experts

in the field. When political scientists or political philosophers

argue over the best way to conceptualise the term “democracy”

the aim is to arrive at a definition that is theoretically adequate.

Persuasive definition

 A persuasive definition is a definition done with the aim of persuading people.

The definition tries to influence attitudes or evoke emotions.
Ostensive Definition

 This is a definition done by pointing to the object one is defining

The Purpose of Definition

 Definition serves some purposes. Some of the purposes include:

(i) to increase vocabulary
(ii) to eliminate ambiguity
(iii) to reduce vagueness
(iv) to explain theoretically
(v) to influence attitudes
(iv) to resolve differences.
(i) To increase vocabulary

 One major aim of definition is to enable

the individual acquire knowledge of a new
word by making the individual understand
the meaning and usage of a word. When
this is done, the individual increases the
number of words in his vocabulary. A lot of
times when we check the dictionary it is so
that we can increase our vocabulary.
(ii) to eliminate ambiguity
A word is ambiguous if the word has
more than one meaning and it is not
clear in which sense one is employing
the word in a particular context. In
order to arrest this situation one may
give a definition that will clarify how
one is actually using the word in a
particular context.
(iii) to reduce vagueness
A vague word is one that its limit, except it
is clearly statesd is not clear. It is a word
that the precise borderline is not clear
when mentioned. When one employs such
word, one may need to state clearly what
the limit of the concept is. A definition may
be provided for the purpose of reducing the
confusion one might encounter when a
vague word is used.
(iv) to explain theoretically


Some definitions are provided
in order to explain
theoretically. Definitions of this
nature are done by
professionals in specific fields
of study
(v) to influence attitudes
Sometimes definitions are provided in
such a way that they influence our
emotion concerning the definiendum
being explained. When such definition
is offered the aim is to evolve positive
or negative feelings in the minds of the
hearer or reader.
(vi) to resolve differences
In some cases when we are involved
in verbal disputes or in genuine
arguments over issues the parties are
merely using the terms over which
one is arguing in different senses. In
order to eliminate this, what one needs
to do is define in what sense one is
using the term in question.
Rules of definition
 Some rule have been developed in order to aid
provision of good definitions. There are five of such
rules
1. Adefinition should state the essential
attributes of a specie
2. A definition must not be circular
3. Adefinition must neither be too broad
nor too narrow
4. A definition must not be
expressed in ambiguous, obscure, or
figurative language
5. A definition should not be negative
were it can be affirmative
RULE 1: A definition should state the
essential attributes of a specie
Some attributes of an entity
are shared by others. It is
important to name a
characteristic that it has
which distinguishes it from
others
 RULE 2:A definition must not be
circular.

Adefinition is circular if the

definiendum that one is defining is
contained in the definiens. In other
words, one should not employ the word
one is defining to define itself.
RULE 3:A definition must be neither too
broad nor too narrow

A definition is broad if it captures

more than it is meant to capture such
that things it is not referring to can fit
into the definition. And it is too
narrow if it excludes things that are
meant to belong to it.
RULE 4:A definition must not be expressed in
ambiguous, obscure, or figurative language.

The purpose of every definition is

to provide clarification. However,
the use of ambiguous, obscure, or
figurative language in giving a
definition further leads to confusion
 RULE 5:A definition should not be
negative were it can be affirmative
A definition should tell us what
a concept means and not what it
does not mean. The reason for
this is that there are a lot of
things that a term does not mean.